shooting.jpgLong Beach State University, like many college campuses is reeling from the reality of “shooters on campus” over the past few years. To that end, the Associated Students Inc. the governing body of CSULB passed a law banning guns from campus. AS with all gun control laws, debate runs hot about leaving lawful gun users without means of defense in the face of scoff-law shooters. Once again proving that CSULB is just like a little city of 38,000 folks.

ASI senators mostly agree: no guns on campus
Lengthy debate slows the passing of the no-gun resolution in the ASI Senate Wednesday.
Andrew Smith
Issue date: 3/13/08 Section: News

The “No Weapons on Campus” resolution was passed by the Associated Students, Inc. Senate Wednesday afternoon despite a lengthy debate and some opposition to the bill.

Not all senators expressed their complete agreement with the resolution, which confirmed the ASI’s support of current state law and university policy banning the carrying of guns on campus.

Sen. Brian Lojeck led the opposition against the resolution, saying that it was “absurd” that people did not believe guns were not already present on college and school campuses.

“It’s a matter of logic. We’ve heard from several people today, including the president [F. King Alexander] saying that they do not want to be on a campus with guns,” Lojeck said. “There are guns on every campus, from a grade school in Compton to the polished marble floors of USC.”

Lojeck added, “The only thing this law does is prevent law-abiding citizens from bringing their guns to school, ensuring that the only armed people on any campus at any time are those who have no respect for the law. This is the antithesis of what this resolution is designed to support, so we cannot pass this resolution.”

Lojeck also referred to a number of 56 people already killed by shootings across the nation, saying that those victims were examples of why the resolution should not pass.

“Those are 56 people that prove a law preventing people from bringing guns on campus does not stop criminals from bringing guns on campuses,” Lojeck said. “Those 56 silent voices prove that we cannot support this resolution.”

Lojeck also spoke of his own research throughout the week, which had monitored the presence of police officers on campus. He concluded that officer numbers would be unable to deal with any possible gun scares at Cal State Long Beach.

“By removing the ability to protect ourselves, the state and the school take on that responsibility and, quite frankly, I have not seen any sign that they take this responsibility seriously,” Lojeck said.

Sen. Raul Preciado, who tabled the bill, said that it was a relief to have the resolution finally passed.

“For whatever reason, there’s always opposition to it one way or another, but like before, we’ve come through,” Preciado said. “We’ve gotten the resolution passed and I thank all the senators for their support.”

CSULB President F. King Alexander said that the resolution was important to the university, given the fact that Arizona recently passed a law allowing people to carry concealed weapons on campus.

“I’d like to thank our Senate and I’d like to think our campus for basically having just the flat-out common sense to understand that this would do nothing more but cause more problems on the college campus,” Alexander said.

Alexander also mentioned that a campus drill would take place within the next three weeks to simulate an emergency situation, such as the presence of an active shooter.